Lancaster University has once again solidified its position as the premier institution in the North West, clinching the top spot in the highly regarded Complete University Guide rankings for the region. In addition to this remarkable achievement, Lancaster has secured an incredible 10th position in the national rankings, reaffirming its status as a leading institution renowned for its exceptional teaching and groundbreaking research.
Every year the Complete University Guide releases UK university and subject league tables to support prospective students to make informed decisions about their future. The regional league tables help people find the right university for them in their area.
The North West boasts a strong higher education landscape, as evidenced by the impressive rankings achieved by its universities in the highly respected and independent Complete University Guide.
In the overall league tables, the University of Manchester achieved an impressive 19th place nationally, reflecting its commitment to delivering a comprehensive and enriching educational experience. This makes Manchester the 2nd highest placed university from the North West. The University of Liverpool was close behind them, coming in joint 24th nationally and securing their 3rd place ranking for the North West.
The North West also saw one of the country’s biggest jumps up the table with Liverpool Hope University (77th) rising 12 places on 2023.
The Complete University Guide’s league table follows on from last month’s Student Choice Awards, hosted by its sister site Whatuni, building on the information available to prospective students to help them make the right decisions as they consider their higher education options.
Within the North West region are pockets of subject-level excellence. Despite the following universities performing below 40th in the overall table, all had high-quality subject rankings reinforcing the importance of looking below the overall ranking. Edge Hill University in Lancashire (57th) ranks 8th nationally for Health Studies, 9th for Social Work as well as 10th for Paramedic Science. The University of Chester (joint 61st) is recognised as a great place to study Tourism, Transport, Travel & Heritage Studies, coming in 9th nationally. There is good news for Liverpool universities too. Liverpool Hope University (77th) and Liverpool John Moores University (joint 80th) are both high performing institutions for health students coming in 10th and 12th in the national rankings respectively.
Universities in the North West continue to demonstrate their dedication to academic excellence, research innovation, and student satisfaction. These achievements further enhance the region’s reputation as a hub for higher education and reinforce its appeal to students seeking a world-class educational experience.
Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said:
“Congratulations to Lancaster University for achieving a top position in this year’s Complete University Guide regional rankings. The rankings show just how high the standards are among the North West top universities.
“Many prospective students in the North West are keen to find the best university in the local area. Complete University Guide’s regional league tables are a valuable source of information to give local prospective students a greater understanding of what higher education options there are in the North West.”
Simon Emmett, Chief Executive Officer of IDP Connect, said:
“With more and more students thinking about how they can make the most of their university experience, the 2024 Complete University Guide league tables will serve as an important guide. We know these rankings help them to make the right decisions about where and what to study as they take their first steps into higher education.”
“What makes the Complete University Guide special is its independence. Our expert board considers a whole array of information before producing our highly-regarded rankings. The tables’ independence from our other operations remains a crucial part of our organisation and ensures that students, parents, and advisors can trust the results and make informed choices based on them.”
“The Complete University Guide is exactly that. It is complete – as well as academic rankings, our guide covers the issues which parents and students also worry about such as cost of living and local crime rates. We know that when it comes to choosing where to study, the Complete University Guide has it all.”
